[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by Johnho771

The Uconn ladies basketball team just had record setting viewership the other night with 14.2 million viewers. Thats million with an M. And this was on a Connecticut based network ESPN. The second most views for any not football event on the network. People in Connecticut are crazy about their sports, thats why ESPN is here. And these numbers are for a women's college sporting event. Can you imagine the numbers a Connecticut based NHL team would be doing on ESPN? At the end of the day, its all a business that comes down to numbers and people are talking.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerro...h=7e1c695a4927

I do not think the NHL would do more, nor can it come to Ct. The Rangers & Bruins would not ok it.

UConn 14.2 mm viewers vs Iowa with the spectacular scoring machine Clark is no shock. Pat & Geno built womens bb. It's not small time. Then you add in Clark who is personable on top of fun to watch, and the fact its Friday night prime time. It was going to have a big audience.

[2020's YouTube Vlog]

Originally Posted by BobNJ1960

I do not think the NHL would do more, nor can it come to Ct. The Rangers & Bruins would not ok it.

UConn 14.2 mm viewers vs Iowa with the spectacular scoring machine Clark is no shock. Pat & Geno built womens bb. It's not small time. Then you add in Clark who is personable on top of fun to watch, and the fact its Friday night prime time. It was going to have a big audience.

A final 4 game, with a generational player in it, shouldn't be expected as the norm.

Same with the game between Iowa and LSU, which had the generational player and a controversial HC in Mulkey.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by 2020's YouTube Vlog

No, the Hawks will remain at the arena where they currently play in downtown Atlanta (next to Mercedes Benz Stadium where the Falcons and ATL United play).

This development is actually being built outside of Atlanta, to the north, and apparently the arena will be for the NHL franchise (should they get one).

Forsyth County is 45 minutes NE of Atlanta. State Farm Arena was renovated in 2018 and the Hawks signed a lease through 2046 with a $250 million minimum termination payment. The owner of the Hawks has proposed a $5 billion mixed use by the arena. They aren’t going anywhere to pay rent to someone else and not get to develop around the arena.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Hartford could only support the New England Patriots. Football games are 8-9 x per year and Hartford could tap into market from new Haven northward and eastward.

But the new lighthouse and the construction of Patriot Place mean that's not going to happen.

Hockey? There is already UConn and Quinnipiac Hockey.

Hartfords draw is weak enough that next year the Connecticut Sun will play a game at TD Garden before they ever play a game at the XL Center

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Hartford could only support the New England Patriots. Football games are 8-9 x per year and Hartford could tap into market from new Haven northward and eastward.

But the new lighthouse and the construction of Patriot Place mean that's not going to happen.

Hockey? There is already UConn and Quinnipiac Hockey.

Hartfords draw is weak enough that next year the Connecticut Sun will play a game at TD Garden before they ever play a game at the XL Center

Hartford could build the 100% taxpayer funded $5B Travelers Mega-Thunderdome Patriot Way Complex with the 500 ft 10 trillion pixel scoreboard, leather luxury seating with hologram consession ordering. Pats get 100% gate, concessions, parking revenue, and no property taxes first 20 years.
If you build it, Kraft will come.

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Hartford could only support the New England Patriots. Football games are 8-9 x per year and Hartford could tap into market from new Haven northward and eastward.

But the new lighthouse and the construction of Patriot Place mean that's not going to happen.

Hockey? There is already UConn and Quinnipiac Hockey.

Hartfords draw is weak enough that next year the Connecticut Sun will play a game at TD Garden before they ever play a game at the XL Center

Woh, did not know about the Sun doing that.

We were below average in attendance most years when the NHL had feeble attendance. They have corrected that, and will be looking for massive season ticket sales, fully paid before locking any deal down. Smart strategy.

[BHW2436]

Connecticut Sun are not a good indication of anything, and not related to a discussion regarding potential NHL team but for reference so everyone is aware…

CT Sun ranked 8 out of 12 in attendance for 2023. They were ahead of Dallas, Washington, Indiana and Atlanta. Indiana will move way up once they draft Caitlin Clark. They have already sold out every game for 2024.

Atlanta is actually a pretty terrible sports town for fan attendance in basketball and hockey. They are very good for MLB and MLS though.

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by BHW2436

Atlanta
They are very good for MLB .

Good attendance when they're winning.
It's no STL or Cubs or BOS

[BHW2436]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

Good attendance when they're winning.
It's no STL or Cubs or BOS

You’re 100% correct.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by BHW2436

Connecticut Sun are not a good indication of anything, and not related to a discussion regarding potential NHL team but for reference so everyone is aware…

CT Sun ranked 8 out of 12 in attendance for 2023. They were ahead of Dallas, Washington, Indiana and Atlanta. Indiana will move way up once they draft Caitlin Clark. They have already sold out every game for 2024.

Atlanta is actually a pretty terrible sports town for fan attendance in basketball and hockey. They are very good for MLB and MLS though.

The WNBA is growing quickly in terms of popularity. So, if you're discussing the future of the sports landscape... It is your state's only pro sports team- so I think it's very relevant here.

The Sun are one of the flagship brands of the WNBA but as the game grows the question of attractiveness of Eastern CT becomes an issue.

The Sun opened its first season on May 24, 2003, against the reigning back-to-back champion Los Angeles Sparks. Mohegan Sun Arena sold out at 9,341 and the national TV audience saw Connecticut fall 82-73.

Connecticut finished the season 18-16. It beat the Sparks in California on July 20 and made the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the eventual WNBA champion Detroit Shock.

According to Across the Timeline, the Sun averaged 6,025 fans per game in 2003.

The Sun reached the WNBA Finals in its second season and again in 2005. Connecticut finished first in the Eastern Conference for three straight years. And in 2007, the Sun averaged a franchise-best 7,970 fans per game, according to Across the Timeline.

And seven years in, the Sun became the first WNBA team to make a profit. The league had taken notice and awarded Mohegan Sun host rights for the 2005 and 2009 All-Star Games and the 2014, 2015 and 2016 WNBA Drafts.